U.S. patent number 5,444,945 [Application Number 07/980,952] was granted by the patent office on 1995-08-29 for wall panelling system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Thrislington Sales Limited. Invention is credited to David Goodwin.
United States Patent |
5,444,945 |
Goodwin |
August 29, 1995 |
Wall panelling system
Abstract
A wall panelling system comprising two upright posts 13, a panel
11, a hinge 19 connecting the panel to one of the posts 13 and a
lock 21 for locking the panel to another post. The posts 13 have a
cross-sectional shape which provides features for the attachment of
the hinge 19 and the locking means 21. The locking means comprises
a latch member 23 pivotally mounted with respect to its post 13 and
a catch 22 fixed relative to the panel 11. The latch member 23 is
movable by means of a pinion 28 which meshes with teeth 27 on the
latch member 23.
Inventors: |
Goodwin; David (Warren Lane,
GB3) |
Assignee: |
Thrislington Sales Limited
(Deeside, GB2)
|
Family
ID: |
10705187 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/980,952 |
Filed: |
November 24, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 25, 1991 [GB] |
|
|
9125009 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/65; 292/199;
292/204; 49/394; 52/220.1; 52/506.06; 52/508; 52/768 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F
13/081 (20130101); E04F 19/06 (20130101); Y10T
292/1085 (20150401); Y10T 292/1079 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E04F
19/02 (20060101); E04F 19/06 (20060101); E04F
13/08 (20060101); E04B 002/90 (); E04B
001/344 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/508,65,766,767,768,475,479,481,483,220.1,506.06,506.08 ;49/394
;292/199,195,204 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Safavi; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Patterson & Keough
Claims
I claim:
1. A wall panelling system comprising: two upright posts, a panel
having a front face and a rear face, a hinge connecting said panel
to one of said posts and means for locking said panel to the other
of said posts; said posts having a cross-sectional shape providing
features for the attachment of said hinge and said locking means;
said locking means comprising a latch member pivotally mounted with
respect to said first post, a catch fixed relative to said panel
and an actuating element; said latch member being movable by means
of said actuating element between a latched position in which said
actuating element engages said catch and an unlatched position in
which said actuating element does not engage said catch, said hinge
comprising a hinge bracket and a first hinge element on said hinge
bracket, said hinge bracket being fixed to said second post, and a
second hinge element which is let into said rear surface of said
panel, said first hinge element comprising a bush and said second
hinge element comprising a housing including a pin on which said
bush is pivotally mounted.
2. A wall panelling system comprising: two upright posts, a panel
having a front face and a rear face, a hinge connecting said panel
to one of said posts and means for locking said panel to the other
of said posts; said posts having a cross-sectional shape providing
features for the attachment of said hinge and said locking means;
said locking means comprising a latch member pivotally mounted with
respect to said first post, a catch fixed relative to said panel
and an actuating element; said latch member being movable by means
of said actuating element between a latched position in which said
actuating element engages said catch and an unlatched position in
which said actuating element does not engage said catch; said
system further including a plurality of cross members including a
top rail, a bottom rail, and an intermediate cross member, said
cross members running between said posts, said posts also providing
features for the attachment of said cross members.
3. A wall panelling system of claim 2 further comprising a latch
bracket operably fixed to said second post, said latch member being
pivotally mounted on said latch bracket.
4. A wall panelling system of claim 2, said latch member including
a toothed portion and a pinion gear operably engageable with said
toothed portion whereby rotation of said pinion gear moves said
latch member between said latched and unlatched positions.
5. A wall panelling system of claim 2, wherein said hinge comprises
a hinge bracket and a first hinge element operably carrier by said
hinge bracket, said hinge bracket being operably carried by said
first post, and a second hinge element which is let into said rear
surface of said panel.
6. A wall panelling system of claim 5, wherein said first hinge
element comprises a bush and said second hinge element comprises a
housing including a pin on which said bush is pivotally
mounted.
7. A wall panelling system of claim 2, wherein said posts are
identical whereby each post provides the features necessary for
engagement with two adjacent panels.
8. A wall panelling system of claim 2, further including a foot
member for each said post, the cross sectional shape of each said
post providing a feature for engagement with the respective
post.
9. A wall panelling system comprising: two upright posts, a panel
having a front face and a rear face, a hinge connecting said panel
to one of said posts and means for locking said panel to the other
of said posts; said posts having a cross-sectional shape providing
features for the attachment of said hinge and said locking means;
said locking means comprising a latch member pivotally mounted with
respect to said first post, a catch fixed relative to said panel
and an actuating element; said latch member being movable by means
of said actuating element between a latched position in which said
actuating element engage said catch and an unlatched position in
which said actuating element does not engage said catch; said
system further including a plurality of cross members running
between said posts and brackets for attaching said posts to a wall,
said posts also providing features for the attachment of said cross
members and said brackets to said posts.
10. A wall panelling system of claim 9 further comprising a latch
bracket operably fixed to said second post, said latch member being
pivotally mounted on said latch bracket.
11. A wall panelling system of claim 9, said latch member including
a toothed portion and a pinion gear operably engageable with said
toothed portion whereby rotation of said pinion gear moves said
latch member between said latched and unlatched positions.
12. A wall panelling system of claim 9, wherein said hinge
comprises a hinge bracket and a first hinge element operably
carrier by said hinge bracket, said hinge bracket being operably
carried by said first post, and a second hinge element which is let
into said rear surface of said panel.
13. A wall panelling system of claim 12, wherein said first hinge
element comprises a bush and said second hinge element comprises a
housing including a pin on which said bush is pivotally
mounted.
14. A wall panelling system of claim 9, wherein said posts are
identical whereby each post provides the features necessary for
engagement with two adjacent panels.
15. A wall panelling system of claim 14, wherein each said post is
adapted to be fixed directly to a wall.
16. A wall panelling system of claim 14, further including a
horizontal rail adapted to be fixed to a wall and a suspension
element adapted to be suspended from said rail and also adapted to
be fixed to said posts.
17. A wall panelling system of claim 9, wherein said cross members
comprises a top rail, a bottom rail and an intermediate cross
member.
18. A wall panelling system of claim 9, further including a foot
member for each said post, the cross sectional shape of each said
post providing a feature for engagement with the respective
post.
19. A wall panelling system of claim 9, wherein each said post is
specifically dedicated to one side of one of said panels, whereby
two adjacent panels will employ four said posts.
20. A wall panelling system of claim 19, further including means
for the attachment of a partition, the cross-sectional shape of
each said post providing a feature for engagement with said means
for attachment of said partition.
Description
The present invention relates to a wall panelling system, as might
for example be used for simply adding a wall or for defining a
deeper space (or duct) between the panelling and the wall. The
invention is particularly suitable but not exclusively applicable
in the construction of public sanitary areas.
In early methods of erecting panelling for public sanitary areas,
such as lavatories and washrooms the greater part of the
construction work was carried out on-site. Thus, timber members
were cut to size and fitted together to form a framework, and
panels were cut to size and fitted together to form a framework,
and panels were cut to size and attached to the framework. The
framework supported any sanitary units, pipework etc. This method
required a great deal of on-site expertise and called for accurate
work under inconvenient conditions, and was particularly difficult
when accurate location of large components was required.
While this method is still widely practised, an improved method has
been devised by the present applicants; this is described in
British Patent No. 2181169, and has proved to have been very
advantageous. This system employs a prefabricated frame comprising
two posts, and three cross members. A panel is hinged to one post
and is locked with respect to the other post, the two posts
providing means for the attachment of the hinge, lock and
cross-members. It has been successful in providing a panelling
system which can be constructed with a minimum of on-site work,
which has sufficient tolerance to allow for on-site adjustability
and which allows easy access to the region behind the
panelling.
However, this system suffers a number of minor drawbacks, namely, a
larger than ideal gap between adjacent panels (to allow the panels
to be opened) which cannot be reduced and the fact that the locking
screws are rather clearly visible and accessible in the gap.
There is therefore some scope for improvement in addressing these
points, and the present invention has this as its object.
According to the invention, there is provided a wall panelling
system comprising two upright posts, a panel, a hinge connecting
the panel to one of the posts, and means for locking the panel to
the other post, the post having a cross-sectional shape providing
features for the attachment of the hinge and the locking means, the
locking means comprising a latch member pivotally mounted with
respect to the first post and a catch fixed relative to the panel,
the latch member being movable by means of an actuating element
between a latched position in which it engages the catch and an
unrelated position in which it does not.
The system preferably also includes a plurality of cross members
running between the posts, the posts providing features for their
attachment.
As with the present Applicants' earlier design, the majority of the
accurate sizing and preparation of the components may be carried
out prior to their delivery to the site, e.g. in a factory.
Preferably, the posts are metal extrusions and so, effectively, the
accuracy of the final structure is attained through the accuracy of
the extrusion and the preparatory work in the factory, rather than
on-site expertise in preparing the basic components.
One particularly difficult on-site operation which can be avoided
is hanging the panel on a hinge, since the hinge can be attached to
the panel in the factory while the necessary means for attachment
are present in the form of the post. This is a great advantage when
the relevant panel is large and therefore heavy. Similarly, all the
panel locking components can be pre-positioned in the factory.
The hinged connection of the panel allows for easy access to any
components located behind the panel. In the case of the panels
associated with water closets, wash-basins etc, such components may
include water supply, drains and possibly a power supply.
Preferably, the latch member is pivotally mounted on a latch
bracket which is fixed to the first post, possibly by means of a
screw or bolt engaging a channel in the post, and the actuating
element comprises a pinion gear which engages a toothed portion of
the latch member. Thus, manual rotation of the pinion gear by means
of a suitable key can raise or lower or otherwise move the latch
member relative to the catch.
Preferably, the hinge comprises a first hinge element on a hinge
bracket which is fixed to the second post, again possibly by means
of a screw or bolt engaging a channel in the post via a horizontal
slot in the bracket, and a second hinge element which is let into
the rear surface of the panel. The second hinge element is
preferably a housing including a vertical pin on which the hinge
bracket may pivot. Thus, the pivotal axis of the panel is actually
within the panel resulting in a reduction in the throw of the panel
into the gap between itself and an adjacent panel and the possible
consequential reduction in the size of that gap. At the same time,
the hinge remains concealed.
In the case of both the lock and the hinge, vertical adjustment is
accommodated by the channel in the post, while horizontal
adjustment of the latch and respective hinge should not be
necessary due to the accurate performing of the components in the
factory. However, a larger gap, for example, to accommodate a
partition may be provided by employing a hinge bracket of a
different size. Some horizontal adjustability in the hinge is
preferably provided, for example by a slot in the hinge bracket
through which the screw or bolt passes. This allows the attitude of
the panel in its plane to be adjusted.
Preferably, the cross members comprise a top rail, a bottom rail
and an intermediate cross member. The intermediate cross member may
be a sturdy timber element which may be used to support the
components in front of the panels, such as wash basins etc.
Preferably, the system includes a foot member for each post, the
cross-sectional shape of each post providing a feature for
engagement with the respective foot member. Each foot member may
comprise a foot with an upright threaded member and an adjustable
nut on the threaded member, the upright being received by a
cross-sectional feature of the post and the post being adjustably
supported by means of the nut. These features may provide a degree
of on-site adjustability, both horizontally and vertically.
The system preferably further includes a horizontal channel for
attachment to the floor, in which channel the feet are received. It
may also includes pair of inverted post members, one at the top of
each post and a horizontal channel for attachment to a ceiling, in
which channel the inverted post members are received. A skirt may
be attached to each horizontal channel.
Naturally, a series of panels may be located side-by-side, all
using common horizontal channels for the feet. They may be
separated by various infil panels which may include partitions, for
example, to define cubicles. Where the system is to be used as to
provide cladding, each post may be effectively combine the
functions of a first post for a first panel and those of second
post for an adjacent panel. Such a combined post may be fixed
directly back to the wall. In order to aid positioning of the
posts, a horizontal rail may first be fixed to the wall near the
top. A suspension element may then be suspended from the rail and
screws or bolts on the suspension element located in corresponding
bores in the post. Such a system may not require feet and may not
be self-supporting but simply attached to the wall.
Where the system is to be used to provide ducting, brackets may be
provided to connect the posts to the wall. The cross-sectional
shape of each post preferably provides a feature, such as a
channel, for the attachment of the brackets by for example bolts or
screws.
Each post may also provide means for the attachment of a partition
support which would preferably connect two immediately adjacent
posts and would provide means for locating a partition at right
angles between adjacent panels.
The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and some
embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a wall panelling
system in accordance with the invention providing cladding;
FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the means for locating
the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are respective front elevations of a suspension
element and post as shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the post;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the locking mechanism;
FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the locking mechanism of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a system providing
ducting; and
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the system adapted to
accommodate a partition.
FIG. 1 shows the adjacent edges of two panels 11,12 which are
associated with a single post 13. However it is to be understood
that the left-hand side of the left-hand panel 11 as shown will be
similar to the left-hand side of the right-hand panel 12, and will
engage a similar post in a similar fashion.
Each panel eg. 12 is attached to the post 13 through two or more
hinge brackets 14 (one of which is shown). The hinge bracket 14 is
screwed to a channel 15 formed in the post 13. The channel 15
allows vertical adjustment while horizontal adjustment is not
necessary, the components having been accurately pre-formed in the
factory.
The hinge bracket 14 has at its free end a bush 16. The panel 12
has a housing 17 let into a cavity in the rear surface. A pin 18 in
the housing 17 fits within the bush 16 to provide a hinge assembly
19 for the panel 12 whose axis is within the panel. The hinge
assembly 19 is in fact preassembled prior to its being connected to
the panel 12. The pin 18 is passed through a hole (not shown in one
end of the housing 17, then through the bush 16 and finally into
another hole (not shown) in the opposite end of the housing 17.
When the housing 17 is located in the cavity in the panel 12, the
pin 18 is held captive and the hinge bracket 14 is thereby attached
to the panel 12 via the bush 16.
At the opposite side, each panel eg. 11 has a locking mechanism 21
also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The mechanism 21 includes a catch 22
fixed to the rear of the panel 11 and a latch member 23 pivotally
mounted on a latch bracket 24. The latch bracket 24 is screwed to a
channel 25 formed in the post 13. The channel 25 allows vertical
adjustment while horizontal adjustment is again unnecessary.
The latch member 23 includes a tab 26 and a toothed section 27
which operatively engages a pinion 28 rotatably mounted on the
latch bracket 24. Thus, rotation of the pinion 28, for example by a
suitable tool (not shown) will cause the latch member 13 to pivot
thereby allowing the tab 26 to locate behind the catch 22.
The arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar except that the
post 33 and the latch bracket 34 have slightly different respective
cross-sections. Specifically, the post 33 has a small central open
bore 35 and two lateral flanges 36,37 one on each side of the bore
35 while the latch bracket 34 is consequently truncated at the
right-hand side as shown.
The system shown in FIG. 1 is located by means of a horizontal rail
41 and a series of suspension mounts 42. The rail 41 is screwed to
the wall 43 near the top. It has an upturned portion 44 along its
lower edge providing an elongate horizontal channel 45. Each mount
42 includes a hooked part 46 at the top, a horizontal plate 47 and
a buffer 49 along the rear edge of the plate 47. Two screws 48
extend downwards through the plate 47.
To locate a post 13 prior to its actually being fixed to the wall
43, a mount 42 is attached to the post 13 by means of the screws 48
which are received in a corresponding pair of bores 51 in the post
13. The buffer 49 is located between two ribs 52 at the rear of the
post 13. The post is then suspended from the rail 41 by locating
the hooked part 46 in the channel 45 and its lateral position is
adjusted until it is satisfactory. The buffer 49 abuts the wall 43.
The post 13 can then be screwed back to the wall 43.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the
system provides ducting means behind the panels 11,12. The lock 21
and hinge 19 arrangements are similar to those shown in FIG. 1 and
will therefore not be described in detail. However the dual
function post 13 has been replaced by two identical (mirror image)
single function posts 61,62.
The post 61 has a channel 63 which is identical in form and purpose
to the channel 25 in the post 13. It therefore serves to locate the
latch bracket 24. Similarly, the post 62 has a channel 64 which is
identical in form and purpose to the channel 15 in the post 13. It
therefore serves to locate the hinge bracket 14.
The post 61 also has a shallow slot 65 defined between a rib 66 and
a shoulder 67, a large bore 68, a flange 69 and a second channel
71. The slot 65 locates cross members 72 (one of which is shown)
which may be located at the top nd bottom of the post 61 and also
at an intermediate position, where they are screwed in place. The
large bore 68 receives a boss from a foot (not shown) and a similar
boss from a head piece or inverted foot member (not shown). The
second channel 71 allows a series of fixing brackets 73 to be
screwed to the post 61. These brackets 73 are screwed back to the
wall 43, thereby attaching the post 61 to the wall.
In a similar manner, the post 62 has a shallow slot 74 for the
location of cross members 72, a large bore 75 for receiving foot
and headpieces bosses (not shown) and a second channel 76 through
which the post 62 is attached to the wall 43. The post also has a
flange 77 which is equivalent to the flange 69. The purpose of the
two flanges 69,77 will be described in connection with embodiment
shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 9 shows an embodiment which is very similar to that of FIG. 8
except that a partition 81 is accommodated at right-angles to the
panels 11,12. In order to accommodate the partition 81, the gap
between the adjacent panels 11,12, is increased. This embodiment
consequently differs from the embodiment of FIG. 9 in three
constructional respects.
Firstly, latch bracket 24 is attached to the post 61 at a different
position, specifically, the latch bracket 24 is moved further to
the left (as shown) relative to the post 61. The corresponding
panel 11 is therefore also effectively moved relatively towards the
left (as shown). Secondly, the other panel 12 is moved relatively
to the right (as shown) by employing an alternative hinge bracket
82 which is laterally shorter than the standard hinge bracket 14,
but is otherwise similar.
Thirdly, a partition bracket 83 is screwed or bolted to the two
flanges 69, 77 and to this in turn, the partition is screwed or
bolted.
* * * * *